Swivel type flashlight with safety means



as S

INVENTOR.

Nov. 10, 1959 M. DULBERG SWIVEL TYPE FLASHLIGHT WITH SAFETY MEANS Filed June 24, 1957 SWIVEL TYPE FLASHLIGHT WITH SAFETY MEANS Murray Dulberg, New York, N.Y.

Application June 24, 1957, Serial No. 667,529

Claims. (Cl. 240--10.68)

This invention relates to flashlights employing a propelrepel carrier assembly of the swivel type. This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pendin-g application Serial No. 318,679, filed November 4, 1952, now Patent No. 2,797,309, and which latter application was copending with my application Serial No. 50,999, filed September 24, 1948 and now Letters Patent No. 2,695,028, granted November 23, 1954.

United States Patent 9 The general object of the present invention is to prov vide a swivel type flashlightwithsafety means. for safeguarding against accidental lighting or darkening of the light bulb.

Specifically, it is the object of the present invention to provide a swivel type flashlight with safety means, generally employed in the lipstick container field to safeguard against lipstick smudging against the inner surface of a removable cover cap, to safeguard against accidental lighting or darkening of the light, bulb.

Other objects and advantagesof thepresent invention will be readily apparent in the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional and exploded view of the propel-repel carrier assembly removed from the outer casing, the bulb at one endof the outer casing being shown partly exposed, the internal elements, in the outer casing not being shown. V

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional and exploded view of the flashlight illustrating the internal structure and arrangement of the component elements and, further, showing a plurality of firm elongated ribs spaced about the operating handle frictionally engaging a removable cover cap.

modified construction and showing a plurality of firm elongated ribs spaced about the casing frictionally engaging a removable cover cap which surrounds the operating handle. V

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional and exploded view of a v Referring now to the drawing in detail andparticularly to Fig. 1, numeral 10 represents an inner tubular member having an elongated slot 11 and having an operating handle 12 exposed pastthe lower end of'the metallic spiralsleeve member 13. The broken lines, at the bottom of the handle portion shown, are to indicate that the bottom of the operating handle may be open or closed. The spiral sleeve member is loosely fitted on the inner tubular member and is provided with a helical slot 14. The annular rim 15 of theoperating handle and the annular bead 16 at the upper end of the inner tubular member limit the longitudinal movement of the spiral sleeve member. Metallic carrier cup 17 is positioned in the inner tubular member. The carrier cup is provided with a metallic lateral follower pin 18 which is positioned in slot 11 and in slot '14 so that rotation of the inner tubular member relative to the spiral sleeve member will cause the carrier cup to move longitudinally in the assembly.

A battery 19, indicatedby the separated dash lines, is positioned in the carrier cup, thepositive pole 20 being faced upwardly. In'the metallicouter casing 21 there is ice mounted a light bulb 22 shown, partly exposed in the upper end of the outer casing. The light bulb is electrically connected to the outer casing so that upon contact of the battery with the conductor (not shown) of the light bulb and the outer casing the electric circuit will be closed and the bulb will be lighted. The means for electrically connecting the light bulb to the outer casing has not been described at more length because it is believed that persons skilled in the art to which this invention relates fully understand the construction and will be more concerned with the means for closing the electric circuit by employing a longitudinally movable carrier. The outer casing is of sufficient lengthto snugly telescope over the spiral sleeve member'so that the outer casing and the spiral sleeve member may be rotated as a single unit relative to the inner tubular member to longitudinally move the carrier cup holding the battery, It is, therefore, evident that rotation of the operating handle relative to the outer casing will advance the battery and light the bulb.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, an'din accordance with the present invention, there is shown a plurality of firm elongated ribs A spaced about the operating handle 12'. Cover cap B is removably frictionally engaged: on the ribs A and the. interior of cover cap B is in spaced relation to the exterior of outer casing 21 so as to be out of engagement therewith. The positive pole 20', of the battery 19', is in contact with the conductor 24 of the light bulb 22' and the negative part 25, of the battery 19, is in contact with the reducedneck'portion 23., of the metallic outer casing 21', thus the light bulb, which is electrically connected to the outer casing 21', is lighted. In its assembled position on the ribs,-the cover cap-safeguards the flashlight against accidental darkening of the light bulb because it safeguards against accidental relative rotation of the operating handle and the outer casing. The cover cap is provided with an opening C through which the light, from the lighted bulb, passes. It willbe evident that when the positive pole 20, of the battery 19',

is not in contact with the conductor 24, of the light bulb,

i.e. is longitudinally spaced from the light bulb, the light bulb will be darkened and the cover cap, in assembled position, will safeguard against accidental lighting ofthe light bulb by safeguarding against accidental advance ment of the positive pole 20 toward the light bulb.

Referring now particularly to Fig. '3, there is shown a modified form of the invention. A plurality. of firmelonlgated ribs D are spaced about the metallicouter casing 21". Cover cap B is removably frictionally engaged. on the ribs D and the interior of cover cap B'.is in spaced relation to the exterior of the operating handle 12". In its assembled position, the cover cap safeguards against accidental relative rotation of the operating handle and the outer casing and thereby safeguards againstaccidental darkening of the lighted bulb and may be employedas a i handle for the flashlight.

Having described, in detail, preferred forms of the present invention, it will be understood that crtainadditional modifications may be made in the device of, the present invention without departing fro'mthe scope there:

of, and it will be understood that all matter contained in space between said conductor and said carrier being available for a battery, said carrier having a lateral projection and being longitudinally movable into said space for engaging one end of the battery to longitudinally vmove the battery into electrical contact with said conductor, cooperative means for lighting said light bulb when a battery is in said casing and the positive pole of the battery is in contact with said conductor, said cooperative means including conductor means normally carried by said carrier to close the circuit, an operatmg handle positioned outside said other end of the casing and connected to said casing for relative rotation, means for actuating said carrier operatively connected to said casing and said operating handle and including spiral cam means extending within said casing and engaging said lateral projection for imparting longitudinal movement to said carrier upon said relative rotation; a removable cover cap covering said casing in spaced rela tion thereto and frictionally engaging the exterior of the operating handle, whereby said appliance is safeguarded against accidental longitudinal movement of said carrier for conductor means toward and away from said conductor of the light bulb.

2. In an electric circuit appliance, the combination of a casing, a light bulb in one end of said casing electrically connected with said casing and having a conductor facing toward the other end of said casing, a carrier for conductor means disposed within said casing between said conductor and said other end of the casing in spaced longitudinal relation to said conductor, the space between said conductor and said carrier being available for a battery, said carrier having a lateral projection and being longitudinally movable into said space for engaging one end of the battery to longitudinally move the battery into electrical contact with said conductor, cooperative means for lighting said light bulb when a battery is in said casing and the positive pole of the battery is in contact with said conductor, said cooperative means including conductor means normally carried by said carrier to close the circuit, an operating handle positioned outside said other end of the casing and connected to said casing for relative rotation, means for actuating said carrier operatively connected to said casing and said operating handle and including spiral cam means extending within said casing and engaging said lateral projection for imparting longitudinal movement to said carrier upon said relative rotation; a removable cover cap covering said operating handle in spaced relation thereto and frictionally engaging the exterior of the casing, whereby said appliance is safeguarded against accidental longitudinal movement of said carrier for conductor means toward and away from said conductor of the light bulb.

3. In an electric circuit flashlight, the combination of a casing member, a light bulb in one end of said casing member electrically connected with said casing member and having a conductor facing toward the other end of said casing member, a carrier for conductor means disposed Within said casing member between said conductor and said other end of the casing member in spaced longitudinal relation to said conductor, the space between said conductor and said carrier being available for a battery, said carrier being longitudinally movable into said space for engaging one end of the battery to longitudinally move the battery into electrical contact with said conductor, cooperative means for lighting said light bulb when a battery is in said casing member and the positive pole of the battery is in contact with said conductor, said cooperative means including conductor means normally carried by said carrier to close the circuit, an operating handle member positioned outside said other end of the casing member and connected to said casing member for relative rotation, means for actuating said carrier, upon said relative rotation, operatively connected to said casing member and said operating handle member; a cover cap, one of said members having means on its exterior for frictionally engaging the interior of said cover cap, said cover cap removably frictionally engaging said means on the said one of said members and covering the other of the said members in spaced rela tion thereto, whereby said flashlight is safeguarded against accidental longitudinal movement of said carrier for conductor means toward and away from said conductor of the light bulb.

4. In an electric circuit flashlight, the combination of a casing, a light bulb in one end of said casing electrically connected with said casing and having a conductor facing toward the other end of said casing, a carrier for conductor means disposed within said casing between said conductor and said other end of the casing in spaced longitudinal relation to said conductor, the space between said conductor and said carrier being available for a battery, said carrier being longitudinally movable into said space for engaging one end of the battery to longitudinally move the battery into electrical contact with said conductor, cooperative means for lighting said light bulb when a battery is in contact with said conductor, said cooperative means including conductor means normally carried by said carrier to close the circuit, an inner tubular member rotatable relative to said casng, handle means connected to said inner tubular member and exposed outside said other end of the casing for rotating said inner tubular member, means for actuating said carrier upon rotation of said inner tubular member relative to said casing, a removable cover cap covering said casing in spaced relation thereto and being mounted on the exterior of said handle means, whereby said flashlight is safeguarded against accidental longitudinal movement of said carrier for conductor means toward and away from said conductor of the light bulb.

5. In an electric circuit flashlight, the combination of a casing member, a light bulb in one end of said casing member electrically connected with said casing member and having a conductor facing toward the other end of said casing member, a carrier for conductor means disposed within said casing member between said conductor and said other end of the casing member in spaced longitudinal relation to said conductor, the space between said conductor and said carrier being available for a battery, said carrier being longitudinally movable into said space for engaging one end of the battery to longitudinally move the battery into electrical contact with said conductor, cooperative means for lighting said light bulb when a battery is in said casing member and the positive pole of the battery is in contact with said conductor, said cooperative means including conductor means normally carried by said carrier to close the circuit, an operating handle member positioned outside said other end of the casing member and connected to said casing member for relative rotation, means for actuating said carrier, upon said relative rotation, operatively connected to said casing member and said operating handle member; a cover cap, one of said members having means on its exterior for removably holding said cover cap against movement relative to said members, said cover cap covering the other of said members so as to be out of engagement therewith and having a portion thereof mounted on the holding means in engagement with said holding means, whereby said flashlight is safeguarded against accidental longitudinal movement of said carrier for conductor means toward and away from said conductor of the light bulb.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,312,305 Berlinger Mar. 2, 1943 2,651,709 Ross et al. Sept. 8, 1953 2,741,694 Thomstad et al. Apr. 10, 1956 2,797,309 Dulberg June 25, 1957 

